Episode #364 -- Welcome to the Machine

The Dark Droids event reaches a sinister point in the pages of issue #3 as the Scourge/Spark/Entity makes a vital breakthrough while simultaneously mounting a defense against Ajax Sigma and trying to take down Darth Vader. It's a crucial issue, not only for the mini-series, but the crossover, setting the stage for the story through the end of the year.In The Mandalorian Season 2 #5, Ahsoka Tano makes her appearance, as does Morgan Elsbeth, which, upon completion of the Ahsoka series, carries a great deal of resonance.Comics Discussed This Week:The Mandalorian Season 2 #5 (5:08)Dark Droids #3 (8:06)Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:Star Wars (Vol. 3) #36Yoda #9 (of 10)News: Dark Droids #2 (of 5) 2nd printing has been pushed back a week to Oct. 25.NYCC starts this week; Lucasfilm's publishing panel is on Sunday, Oct. 15.Check out the Facebook page to see some of Ario Anindito's pencils for The High Republic Phase III #1, as well as more preview pages of the Nov. 8 issue, along with variant covers for that issue.The Shadows of Starlight TPB (collecting 1-4) is now set for April 30 and not April 2.The first TPB collecting issues 1-4 of The High Republic Phase III is slated for release June 4.Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:Oct. 17 _ The High Republic Phase One Omnibus (Collects The High Republic (Vol. 1) 1-15, Eye of the Storm 1-2 and Trail of Shadows 1-5); Tales From the Death Star HC Graphic Novel
Oct. 18 _ Star Wars #39, Obi-Wan Kenobi #2 (of 6) 

Oct. 25 _ D-Squad #2 (of 4), Doctor Aphra #37, Dark Droids #2 (2nd Printing)Oct. 31 _ The High Republic Adventures -- The Monster of Temple Peak and Other Stories (Collects Monster of Temple Peak 1-4 and The High Republic Adventures Annual); Star Wars Legends: The Empire Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Dark Times -- Fire Carrier 1-5, Dark Times -- A Spark Remains 1-5, Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin 1-5, Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 1-5, Droids Special 1, Droids (1994) 1-6, Droids (1995) 1-8, Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive, plus material from Star Wars Visionaries, Star Wars Tales 11-12, 15 and 20, Dark Horse Presents Annual ’99 and Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 1)Nov. 1 _ Star Wars #40, Hyperspace Stories #10 (of 12)Nov. 7 _ Star Wars: Scoundrels, Rebels and The Empire TPB (Collects the Jabba's Palace, Ewoks, Lando, The Empire, The Rebellion and Max Rebo one-shots)Nov. 8 _ The High Republic (Vol. 3) #1, Shadows of Starlight #2 (of 4), Darth Vader #40
Nov. 14 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 8 (Collects Star Wars: Empire 5-6, 8-13, 15; Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron 1/2; Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition 1-4; Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead 1; material from Star Wars Tales 1, 6, 8-10, 12, 14, 16, 19)
Nov. 15 _ Star Wars: Visions Peach Momoko, Dark Droids #4 (of 5), Doctor Aphra #38, Return of the Jedi — The 40th Anniversary Covers, The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 (of 8)
Nov. 21 _ The Mandalorian Season 2 Part 1 TPB (Collects 1-4)

Nov. 22 _ Hyperspace Stories #11, Bounty Hunters #40, D-Squad #3 (of 4)

Nov. 29 _ Obi-Wan Kenobi #3 (of 6)Dec. 5 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 7 (Collects Boba Fett - Bounty on Bar-Kooda 1, Boba Fett - When the Fat Lady Swings 2, Boba Fett - Murder Most Foul 3, Boba Fett - Agent of Doom 1, Jedi Academy - Leviathan 1-4, The Mixed-Up Droid 1, Union 1-4, Chewbacca 1-4 and material from Star Wars Tales 19); The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 2), Vol. II TPB (Collects 5-8)

Dec. 6 _ Star Wars #41, D-Squad #4 (of 4), The High Republic Adventures Phase III #1
Dec. 13 _ The High Republic Phase III #2, Bounty Hunters #41, The High Republic Phase III #2, Shadows of Starlight #3 (of 4), Hyperspace Stories #12

Dec. 19 _ Yoda TPB (Collects 1-10)Dec. 20 _ Star Wars: Revelations (2023), Darth Vader #41, Doctor Aphra #39
Dec. 27 _ Dark Droids #5 (of 5), The Mandalorian Season 2 #7 (of 8)
2024Jan. 3 _ Darth Vader #42, Shadows of Starlight #4 (of 4), Star Wars: Visions Takashi Okazaki #1, Darth Vader -- Black, White & Red Treasury Edition (Collects 1-4)
Jan. 10 _ Star Wars #42, The Mandalorian Season 2 #8 (of 8)
Jan. 16 _ Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Vol. 2, "Scum and Villainy" TPB (Collects 5-8)Jan. 17 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III #2
Jan. 23 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed, Vol. 4 (Collects The Bounty Hunters - Aurra Sing 1; Star Wars: Starfighter - Crossbones 1-3; Free Comic Book Day 2002: Star Wars 1; Star Wars: Republic 46-48; Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 1-4; Star Wars: Hasbro/Toys ‘R’ Us Exclusive 1-4 and material from Dark Horse Extra 44-47; Star Wars Tales 2, 7, 14, 18, 20, 24)
Feb. 27 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Rise of the Sith, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Jedi - The Dark Side 1-5, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express 1-2, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan - Last Stand on Ord Mantell 1-3, Jedi Council - Acts of War 1-4 and material from Star Wars (1998) 4-6, Star Wars Tales 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10, 13-14 and 24)March 5 _ Star Wars (Vol. 3), Vol. 7 (Collects 37-41), Dark Droids: D-Squad TPB (Collects 1-4)
March 19 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Republic 78-80, Purge, Purge - Seconds to Die, Purge - The Hidden Blade one-shots, Purge - The Tyrant’s Fist 1-2, Darth Vader and the Lost Command 1-5 and Dark Times 1-5)
March 26 _ Dark Droids TPB (Collects 1-5)

April 2 _ The High Republic: Shadows of Starlight TPB (Collects 1-4)

April 9 _ Darth Vader (Vol. 3) Vol. 8 TPB (Collects 37-41)
April 16 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Mara Jade - By the Emperor’s Hand 0-6, Shadows of the Empire - Evolution 1-5, The Jabba Tape, Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14-15, 20 and 22); Hyperspace Stories Vol. 3 TPB "Light and Shadow" (Collects 9-12); Bounty Hunters Vol. 7 TPB “Dark Droids” (Collects 35-41)April 23 _ Star Wars by Gillen & Pak Omnibus (Collects Star Wars (2015) 38-75, Star Wars Annual 4, Star Wars: Empire Ascendant 1); Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) Vol. 7 “Dark Droids” TPB (Collects 32-33, TBD)
April 30 _ The High Republic (Vol. 3), Vol. 1 TPB (Collects 1-4)

May 14 _ Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion, Vol. 2 Omnibus (Collects Star Wars: River of Chaos (1995) 1-4; Star Wars: Empire (2002) 28-40; Star Wars: Rebellion (2006) 1-16; Star Wars: Boba Fett – Overkill (2006) 1; Star Wars: Boba Fett (1997) 1/2; Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye (1995) 1-4; material from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Rebellion (2006) 0; Star Wars Tales (1999) 3, 15, 17, 21)
May 21 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Old Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Knights of the Old Republic 1-18 and material from Kings of the Old Republic/Rebellion 0)
June 11 _ Star Wars Legends: The New Republic Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Star Wars: The Jabba Tape; Heir to the Empire 1-6, Dark Force Rising 1-6, The Last Command 1-6. Dark Empire 1-6, Dark Empire II 1-6), Empire's End 1-2, Boba Fett -- Twin Engines of Destruction, Bounty on Bar-Kooda, When the Fat Lady Swings, Murder Most Foul and Agent of Doom, Star Wars Handbook 3 and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14, 20 and 22); Obi-Wan Kenobi Adaptation TPB (Collects 1-6)July 2 _ Star Wars Legends: Tales of the Jedi omnibus. (Collects Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force Storm 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Prisoner of Bogan 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force War 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi 0, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Golden Age of the Sith 0-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Fall of the Sith Empire 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1-2, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Sith War 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Redemption 1-5, material from Star Wars Tales 23 and Dark Horse Comics 7-9)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Star Wars Splash Page is a weekly podcast dedicated solely to contemporary Star Wars comics published by Marvel, Dark Horse and previously IDW, featuring views about the current week's comics, interviews with the writers, artists, colorists, letterers and editors who create them, as well as the latest details on publishing schedules, upcoming series and mini-series, so that you, the listener have more detail and context about the comics that are a vital part of Star Wars canon, lore and legends.